Portable pump



J. H. MORROW PORTABLE PUMP May l2, 1931.

`5 Sheets-Sheet Fwled Aug. l5, 1928 INVEN TOR J/f Maeow Y `w K M0/s @m f ATTORNEY` May 12, 193,*1. 1, H MORROW 1,804,565

PORTABLE PUMP Filed Aug. l5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JMA/ofsow ATTORNEYS J. H. MORROW May 12, 1931.

PORTABLE PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. l5., 1928 INVENTOR J H Moeeow elr Nw.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES'v PATENT 'oi-FICE JOSEPH H. MORROW, 0F CATASAUQUA, PENNSYLVNIA, .ASSIGNOR TO FULLER COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTAIBLE PUMP Application filed August 15, 1928. Serial No. 299,718.-

This invention relates to the conveying of.

pulverized or finely divided materials such as cement, soda ash, lime, etc., and more particularly to a conveying apparatus for handling such materials when stored loosely in bull. It is especially applicable to the unloading of materials from box cars and barges and to the removal to other points of materials stored in open bins.

The invention is particularly directed to certain improvements and modifications of the apparatus shown and described in Kinyon Patents Nos..1,553,539, issued September 15th, 1925; 1,652,281 issued December 13th, 1927; and 1,677,119, issued July 10th, 1928. As described in the patents referred to, the materials to be conveyed are rendered fluent in the Kinyon apparatus by the injec- 'tion of a small quantityof compressed air or other gas and arethen forced through pipe lines of extended length by the mechanical pressure of an impeller screw or other conveyor, the normal expansion of the air being used to create the fluent condition..

The conveyor itself, commonly referred to as a pump, consists essentially of a hollow casing having an inlet hopper-to which the materials are delivered continuously from a storage bin, pulverizer or other source.

Within the hopper an imp eller screw rotates and advances the material to a point where air is admitted. The primary function of this air is to destroy internal friction in the mass of material so that the latter may be forced through a. pipe line by the mechanical pressure of the screw and the normalexpansion of the air. In this aerated condition each particle of material seems to be surrounded by a thin film of air which destroys internal friction in the mass and friction against the Walls of the transport pipe line; the material is expanded to approximately twice its normal volume and although it is apparently a solid it has many of 'the characteristics of a liquid and will flow through the pipe line under the pressure of the screw and the advancing material column.

In order for the apparatus to operate at maximum efficiency, it is necessary to prevent aeration of the material as it is advanced along the screw itself, as the decreased friction would cause the screw to slip.

creasing pressur'eas it is advanced through,

the casing to the point of air admission, to form a densely compacted mass of material through which air cannot penetrate. This may be accomplished by a number of arrangements, for example, a differential pitch screw having fiights of constant diameter and decreasing pitch toward the discharge end may be used, or a portion of the casing may be formed as a truncated cone discharging toward its shorter end, or by using a conical screw the material will be compacted. Another alternative consists in using a screw of constant pitch and diameter the flights of which terminate a suflicient distance from the point of air admission to form the densely compacted mass of material due to the pressure of the advancing material and friction against the walls of the casing. As local conditions, such as the length of the system, number of bins, elevations, letc., govern the static resistance of the conveying system and as material density may also be a local condition, the most usual commercial practice is to use a screw of constant diameter and decreasing pitch, the fiights terminating a short distance from the'point of air admission to form a short dead seal space. By combining with either -a' conical or differentially pitched screw, a dead seal space, as described above,

fy particularly the method of operation of the apparatus of the patents but to modify the structure in order that the device will be readily portable and can be handled by one mall.

into a mass of material which is introduced l so that the apparatus will have a tendency toy and advanced through a casing by a rapidly rotating screw. Slightly beyond the screw and in the Zone of greatest material density, compressed air is admitted preferably through a `plurality of small openings surrounding the screw shaft. The shaft extends through a wall of the casing through which additionalair is admitted to form a counter current to preventA abrasive dust from working along the shaft and intothe bearing surfaces and driving motor. This air, reacting against the air admitted through the apparat'lsfreferred to, increases the fluency of the ni'aterial conveyed. The casing terminates inA the form of an angular discharge elbow which, if theapparatus is to be used as a portable conveyor', is connected to alength of flexible hose, such as the stiff-walled hose for liquid suction pumps. This hose may in turn be connected to the usual steel pipe line leading to the various points of delivery.

In order to decrease the weight, simplify the apparatus and facilitate repairs, -the motor and screw have a common shaft and shaft bearings. When used for unloading box cars or flat bottom bins the apparatus is mounted on Wheels, the axle shaft of which is secured slightly to the rear of the center of weight tip forwardly. Suitable handle bars are provided so that the device can be pushed into a pile o'f material. "When unloading full bins or barges the wheels may be removed and the apparatus suspended from cables.

This invention has the advantage of the large capacity and l'ow power and maintenance cost of the Kinyon apparatus as described above, and likewise is lacking in mechanical and fire hazard.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation,

Fig. 2 is a detail of the air admission apparatus,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, v x Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section of the shaft and bearing assembly on line4--4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the apparatus, showipg the supports. a

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus is shown to consist of a barrel or casing 10, having a cylindrical forward section 11, Open at its forward end, and a rearward conical section 12, suitably bolted or othervwise secured as at 13t0 the offset discharge section or elbow 14. The ldischarge elbow terminates in a suitable coupling 15 for the i flexible rubber hose 16. The forward end 11 of the casing 10 may be secured to a removable scoop 17 or may be secured directly to a bin spout.

The material to be conveyed is picked up by the screw 18 secured to a shaft 19, mounted for rotation in suitable bearings as will be ,described hereinafter. In order to handle a maximum quantity of material and to effect the dense scal of material as described above, in the shortest space, the forward flights such as 20 and 21 are of relatively larger diameter than the flights 22 in the conical sectionof the casing 12. The terminal flight 23 is of the least diameter and terminates a short distance from the point of air admission to form a dead seal space.

The shaft 19 tapers toward the inlet end of the casing to decrease the tendency for the shaft to oscillate and to decrease the total space progressively within the casing in or- `der to increase the density of the material conveyed. As shown in detail in Fig. 2, a recess is formed at 23 in the flange 24 of the conical section 12. This recess accommodates an annular boss 25 in the flange 26 of the discharge elbow 14. This arrangement together with the usual gasket (not shown), prevents the escape of compressed air to the atmosphere. Flanges 24 and 25 are again recessed to form an annular channel 27 int-0 which air is admitted through the inlet 28. The inner side of the channel 27 is closed by an air ring 29 secured in recesses 30 and 31 of the flanges 24 and 26 respectively. This air ring 29 has a groove 32 formed on its outer surface which communicates with the channel 27. An annular inclined shoulder 33 is formed on the inner surface and air ports 38, extending approximately at right angles to the shoulder communicate with the groove 32'to admit air into the material at the zone of greatest density.

The air ports 38 extend in a radial direction excepting that their inclination to the axis of the ring is greater at the bottom of the ring, for in the device shown the discharge elbow 14 extends upwardly. If the device is arranged to discharge downwardly, the air ring should be inverted. This arrangement produces a more uniform aeration and overcomes the natural tendency of material to move downwardly.

Air is admitted to the channel 27 through a piping system 39 under control of a suitable valve 40. The air is conducted to the valve through the usual flexible rubber hose (not shown). T 41, reducer 42 and lthe small pipe line 43, serve to by-pass a small quantity of air for excluding dust from the bearing surfaces as will be described hereinafter.

At the lowermost portion ofthe air channel 27, an outlet 44 communicates with elbow 45 and valve 46. This valve is normally closed and is provided to enable the operator to blow 'the channel clear of material which may accumulate therein when the apparatus is idle.

The drive arrangement can best be under- Vstood by reference to FiguresI 1 and 4. The

shaft 19 passes through the housing 47 cast as an integral part of the discharge elbow. The motor and bearing assembly is suitably bolted or otherwise secured to the housing 47 as shown at 48.

The stator frame 50 ofthe motor is secured to the motor end bells 51 and 52 by bolts 53. The end bells are provided with the usual supports or Webs 54 and 55 to support the forward bearing housing 56 andthe rear'bearing housing 57. The spaces between the supports or webs 54 are closed by sheet metal covers 58 to exclude dust from the motor. The

spaces between the rear webs 55 are left open to allow for the circulation of air to cool the motor.

The shaft 19 is reduced in diametc-z` at 60 and is surrounded by the motor rotor bushing 61, the rotor being keyed to the bushing at 62 (see Fig. 1) within the bearing housing 57. The shaft and rotor bushing are supported in a combined radial and thrust ball bearing 63, the races of which are recessed \into the rotor bushing 64 and into the thrust collar 65 at 66. The end of the shaft is reduced and threaded and the shaft and thrust collar are secured by a nut 67. Cap 68 excludes dust from the bearing.

The fir. nt radial ball bearing includes anl outer race 39 secured in a recess in the bearing housing 56 by bearing cover 70. The inner race 71 surrounds the rotor bushing '6l which is reduced in diameter to accommodate the bearing race, and is secured in place by bearing retaining ring 72 screwed or otherwise secured to the rotor bushing. Bearing housing is provided with the usual grease packing 73 to prevent grease from working forwardly along the bushing.

In order to forni a counter current of air 'along the shaft 19, air from the small pipe line 43 enters the housing 47 through inlet 74 communicating with an inlet in an air seal housing 75. A channel 76 formed in the inner surface of the air seal housing surrounds rotor bushing 61 and permits the air to escape forwardly. The air is distributed in equal pressure and volume by means of a labyrinth collar 77 screwed or otherwise secured to the rotor bushing. The air is thus evenly distributed and moves forwardly along the shaft 19 through a. narrow space 78 between the shaft and the wall of the housing 47.

The air is prevented from escaping rearwardly toward the bearings by packing rings 79 which are held in place by a spring 8() and retaining rings 81. The packing 79, spring 8O and retaining rings 81 are held in place by the plate 82 which is screwed on its outer edge to the air seal housing 75.

As shown in Fig. 5, the device is supported on wheels 83 and 84, mounted for rotation to the axle shaft 85. The axle shaft is flattened, as shown at 86 in Fig. l and is curvedto accommodate the stator frame 50 of the motor, the shaft preferably surounding the lower half of the motor. The device is also secured by a cross-member 87, bolted at 88 to the stator frame 50 and suitably se,- cured to the handle bars 89 and 90. It will be seen, that the center of support, of the entire apparatus is slightly to the rear of the center of weight, in order that the conveyor will tend to tilt forwardly to facilitate entry into the material to be transported.

Inorder to reduce the total weight of the apparatus many of the parts may be made of a light material such as aluminum. For example, the motor end bells 51 and 52,2 the casing 10 and the discharge elbow 14, may be made of aluminum, although if an abra.- sive material such as cement is to be handled, the casing 10 should be made of cast-iron or steel. The screw flights, being subject to the greatest wear, as well as the inner surface of the air ring 29 should be protected by a thin layer of wear resisting metal such as the alloy commonly known as Stellite. The screw flights themselves are preferably made of half sections of cast-steel.

The operation and device is as follows: Air is admitted through the valve 40 and discharges into the casing and discharge 4elbow through the air ring 29 and around the shaft 19 where it passes through the wall of the elbow. Valve 46 is then opened momentarily to blowl the air channel 27Afree of dust in order to prevent plugging of the inlets 38. The driving motor is then started and the conveyor can then be moved into the pile of material to be conveyed or the scoop 17 may be disconnected and the casing section 11 secured to a bin spout.

It will be apparent that by means of the common motor and shaft bearings the apparatus is relatively light in weight, simple in construction, and at the same time alignment diiii'cul'ties are avoided. As the screw itself is subject to the greatest wear and must be repaired more often than an other element of the device, the rotor bushing has been provided in order to avoid replacement of the air sealing and bearing elements when the sci-ew must be renewed. In accordance with the present design the removal of the nut 67 and its cooperating thrust collar 65 together with key 62, makes it possible to substitute a new screw shaft or to makerepairs quickly. 'n

In the preferred form of my invention, illustrated and described above, the discharge of the apparatus is upward in order hose for supplying the apparatus. In addition, the specific form of screw shown has the advantage of large flights for entering theL pile of material in order to remove a maximum quantity, and in cooperation wlth the conical screw section the seal of material to resist the tendency of the air to discharge forwardly can be made in the shortest space. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to Vthe type of Screw shown nor to the upwardly directed discharge elbow.

What is claimed is 1. Apparatus for conveying pulverized material comprising a casing having an open end for the admission of material, an offset discharge elbow connected to the other end of the casing, a screw shaft within the casing and extending through a wall of the discharge elbow, a bushing surrounding the shaft and secured thereto beyond the elbow, the bushing being supported in spaced bearings and driving means secured to the bushing between the bearings. 2. Portable apparatus for conveying pulverized material through a pipe line comprising thelcombination of a casing having an open end for the admission of material, an offset discharge elbow connected to the other end of the casing, a screw shaft within the casing and extending through a wall of t-he elbow and mounted in spaced bearings therebeyond, a rotor of a motor secured to the shaft between the bearings, a stator frame surrounding the rotor, and a pair of wheels mounted on axles secured to the stator frame slightly to the rear of the center of weight of the apparatus in order to cause the apparatus to tilt-forwardly.

3.*Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material, which comprises the combination of a casing having anl opening at one end for the admission of material and an opening at the other end for discharge thereof, a shaft having a portion lying within the casing, said portion being provided with a conveyor screw, a motor having a frame attached to the casing near one end thereof, the rotor of the motor being connected to the shaft, a rolling support attached to the frame, the weight of the motor, casing and associated parts being transmitted to the support through the frame, and spaced bearings in the frame for supporting the shaft, said bearings lying at oppositeends of'said rotor.

4. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material, which comprises the combination of a casing having an opening at one end for the admission of material and an opening at the other end for discharge thereof, a shaft having a portion within the casing, said portion being provided with a conveyor screw, a motor having a frame attached to the casing. the rotor of said motor being mounted spaced bearings carried by the l ting, themshaftI said bearing lying the bearin rolling support for the frame adapted to carry the weight of the motor, casing and associated parts, means for introducing air into thev'asing near the discharge end thereof, and means for introducing air into the casing along said shaft, the air flowing along the shaft preventing the ingress of materials being conveyed into the adjacent bearing.

5. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material, which comprises the combination of a casing having an opening at one end for the admission of material and an opening at the other end for discharge thereof, a shaft having a portion within the casing, said portion being provided with a conveyor screw, a

motor having a frame attached to the casing,l

a bushing on the shaft connected thereto, the rotor of said motor being mounted rigidly on the bushing, a rolling support attached to the frame and carrying the weight ofthe motor, casing and associated parts, and spaced bearings mounted in the frame for supporting said bushing and shaft.

6. Apparatus for conve ing pulverulent material, which comprises t e combination of a casing having an opening at one end for the admission of material and an opening at the other end for discharge thereof, a shaft having a portion within the casing, said portion being provided with a conveyor screw, a motor having a frame attached to the casing,

the rotor of said motor being connected to' the shaft, spaced bearings for the shaft, one on each side of the rotor, said bearings being mounted in the frame, with the bearing remote from the casing adapted to place the shaft under tension in the operation of the device, and a rolling support attached to the frame and supporting the weight of the motor, casingV and associated parts transmitted through the' frame to the support.

7. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material throuofh a pipe line comprising the combination o a casing havinff an opening at one end for the admission of:a material, an

offset discharge elbow connected to the other end of the casing, a screw shaft within the casing extending through the wall of the elbow and mounted in spaced bearings beyond said elbow, a rotor of a motor attached to the shaft between the bearings, a stator frame surrounding said rotor, said stator frame being rigidly attached to the casing, and a rolling support attached to the frame for bearing the weight of the motor, casing and associated parts transmitted to the support through the frame.

8. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material which comprises the combination of a casing having an opening at one end for the admission of material, an elbow discharge section connected to the casing at the other. end,.means VVfor admitting air into the discharge,fsectioii'` adjacent the end of the casing',#ashaft'zektending through `the wall of the section into the casing and carrying a screw for advancing material through the casing and out through the section, a quill surrounding the shaft beyond the wall of the casing, and a motor having a rotor mounted on said quill and a stator rigidly secured to the section.

9. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material comprising a casing having an open end for the admission of material, an offset discharge elbow connected to the other end of the casing, a screw shaft within the casing and extending through the wall of the discharge elbow, a bushing surrounding the shaft, the bushing being supported in spaced inner and outer bearings, driving means secured to the bushing between the bearings, the shaft being secured to the bushing by locking means beyond the outer bearing.

10. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material comprising a casing having an open end for the admission of material, an offset i discharge elbow connected to the other end supported in spaced bearings, the

of the casing, a screw shaft Within the casing and extending through the wall of the dis- 'charge elbow,

a bushing surrounding the shaft beyond the elbow, the bushin being bearing adjacent to the discharge elbow being a radial bearing, the bearing remote from the discharge elbow being a combined thrust and radial bearing, driving means secured to the bushin between the bearings and means beyond t e thrust bearing for securing the screw shaft to the bushing.

11. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material which comprises the combination of a casing having an opening at one end for the admission of material and an opening on the other end for the discharge thereof, a shaft having a portion within the casing, said portion being provided with a conveyor screw, a motor having a frame attached to the casing, the rotor of the motor being mounted on the shaft, spaced bearings carried by the frame for supporting the shaft, the said bearings lying one at each side of the rotor, means for introducing air into the casing near the discharge end thereof, and means for introducin g air into the casing along said shaft, the air flowing along the shaft to prevent the ingress of materials being conveyed into the adjacent bearing.

12. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material which comprises the combination of a casing having an opening at one end for the admission of material and an opening on the other end for the discharge thereof, a shaft having a portion within the casing, said portion being provided with a conveyor screw, a motor having a frame attached to the casing, the rotor of the motor being mounted on the shaft, spaced bearings, carried by the frame for supporting the shaft, the said bearings lying one at each side of the rotor and the bearing at the end of the shaft remote from the casing being a thrust bearing, means for introducing air into the casing near the discharge end thereof, and means for introducing air into the casing along said shaft, the air flowing along the shaft to prevent the ingress of materials being conveyed into the adjacent bearing.

13. Apparatus for conveying pulverulent material, which comprises the combination of a casing having an opening at one end for the admission of material and an openin at the other end for the dischar e thereo a shaft having a portion lying within the casing, said portion being rovided with a conveyor screw, a motor aving a frame attached to the casing near one end thereof, the rotor of the motor being connected to the shaft, spaced bearings for the shaft, one at each side of the rotor, said bearings being mounted in the frame, the bearing remote from the casing being a radial and thrust bearing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH H. MORROW. 

